ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service announced today that hundreds of eligible fish are still waiting to be caught in the last two weeks of the 2nd Annual Maryland $1,000,000 Fishing Challenge: The Return of Diamond Jim.
The 13-week tournament ends September 4 with more than 130 anglers qualified to win a chance at $1 million cash, a 20-foot center console Sailfish 206CC motorboat and trailer, an 18-foot 7-inch Tracker Nitro 591 motorboat and trailer, and two 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 pick-up trucks.
The following is a list of anglers who caught qualifying tagged fish during the last few weeks of the Fishing Challenge:
o David Zeigler, Waldorf, MD: largemouth bass, Pomonkey Creek (July 30)
o Albert Strong, Chestertown, MD: striped bass, Still Pond Creek in Chesapeake Bay (August 8)
o Jake Drengwitz, Silver Spring, MD: largemouth bass, Little Seneca Lake (August 13)
o Phil Gay, Monkton, MD: brown trout, Gunpowder River (August 14)
DNR Fisheries staff released the twelfth Diamond Jim striped bass just west of the Gum Thickets in the mid bay region off Kent Island. The $25,000 fish becomes eligible at 5 a.m. Saturday, August 19 and expires midnight Friday, August 25. The first person who catches a winning Diamond Jim will also win a pair of one-half karat (0.50) diamond earrings courtesy of Zachary’s Jewelers in Annapolis. For more information about the prizes, rules and where to fish visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/fish4cash/.